Job Cuts Raise Concerns
Tuesday, March 13, 2012 @ 3:56 AM
Prince George, B.C.- The impact of recent job cuts at City Hall was presented to City council last night.
Janet Bigelow, President of CUPE local 1048, stepped forward to recognize the workers from the former environmental division at City Hall, who were responsible for the efforts which helped the City achieve the 5th Milestone ( the final in 5 milestones) of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Partners for Climate Action achievement. Bigelow asked Mayor Green to explain how the City plans to move forward with it’s plans to improve air quality now that the environmental division is no longer. Mayor Green had no direct answer to that question, but did remark it would be a challenge given the current fiscal challenges.
The second comment came from the Metis Housing Society. The Society was requesting a permissive tax exemption for it’s building on Houston Lane but in addition made a comment about the loss of Chris Bone as the Social Development Coordinator. That position was eliminated during the recent job cuts at City Hall although Bone landed the job as head of the media relations department. The Metis Housing Society praised Bone for her work with a variety of community partners in efforts to reduce homelessness. Again, Mayor Green responded with a comment that where possible, the City will do the best it can within the financial constraints it is facing.
As for a permissive tax exemption, the request has been reviewed by the Finance and Audit Committee and the Committee is of the opinion the Society does not meet the requirements as outlined in the policy guidelines for granting a tax exemption.
Comments
Of course the union will complain,they have to as its a show of backing their members. As for anyone getting a tax exemption I am against it. If you have a building or house on city property then pay the appropriate tax, churches included. You get the same services I do but I have to pay for them, makes no sense to me.
Given the current fiscal challenges? And you want to put the city into a further $3.5 million hole for an uneeded dike, green? Your laughable if you weren’t so scary. Get your hands out of my pocket. I won’t tell you again.
Wasn’t the reasoning by the mayor that the dike project will not increase taxes so she is OK with it.
She has to give her head a shake on nonsensical quips as it does indeed raise taxes, just in the future and not today regardless if they use the AAP to borrow the money. It has to be paid back, mind you in 20 chunks with interest but it does have to be paid back somehow and where does that money come from? Unless there is a cookie jar in her office – taxes.
Fiscal restraint. Huh? Then why are we borrowing millions for a silly dike or why did council give themselves a 30% raise? If things are so bad why didn’t council cut back their travel budget a little?
Fiscal restraint sounds good but this is all about priorities. Taking care of our environment or helping those with social challenges are obviously not a priority for the mayor.
Somebody has to pay for the tax breaks for the special interest groups and unfortunately the employees working in the envvironmental division and the social development department were expendible.
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